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Committee authorizes amended FEMA Port Security grant acceptance for port cameras, pending counsel review
Summary
The committee approved accepting a reduced FEMA Port Security Grant award for port-area cameras and related maintenance, with the federal share and city match updated and corporation counsel review required before final acceptance.
The City Services and Environmental Policy Committee voted on Oct. 16 to accept a revised FEMA Port Security Grant award that funds camera upgrades and maintenance at New Haven’s port facilities, the city’s emergency management director said.
"Originally, we asked for about $2,000,000 worth of assets," Caleb Glenn, director of emergency management, told the committee. He said the grant process produced a quicker-than-normal turnaround and that FEMA awarded funding for the cameras: "they've already come back to us on what they've decided to award, which is $93,000." Glenn said the full award amount listed in the packet was $124,796, with a federal share of $93,597 and a local match of $31,199.
Glenn said the city had requested additional port and fire assets — including a replacement marine vessel and portable radios for the fire department — but those requests were not funded because this year FEMA prioritized physical security and cybersecurity. He cautioned that the city has not yet formally accepted the award: that step remains under review by corporation counsel to confirm federal requirements and any special conditions.
Committee members amended the agenda item to reflect the actual award amount and to remove references to vessel purchases that the award did not support. The amended motion authorizes staff to accept the camera-focused grant award if corporation counsel and staff confirm the terms are acceptable.
Budget and operational notes: Glenn said existing camera maintenance and on-call IT contracts provide the city match and that, if funds were not used, the maintenance expense would instead hit existing camera maintenance budgets. For the vessel and radio requests, Glenn said the city maintains some capital funding for radios and that the marine vessel maintenance has been covered through capital and rolling-stock allocations; the vessel replacement request remains a potential future capital need.
The amended motion passed by voice vote; the record does not show a roll-call tally. Staff said they will proceed with legal review and return to the board if additional approvals are required before accepting the federal award.
